Rapid response team kills 2,700 chickens
Authorities on Monday slaughtered around 2,400 chickens at the Pathibhara Poultry Farm in Khanar-4. Test reports sent by the Veterinary Laboratory Agency in the United Kingdom had on Sunday confirmed bird flu in the farm. The samples had been sent from the Pathibhara Poultry and the PK Poultry Farm and Suppliers in Itahari-6.
The Eastern Regional Veterinary Health Directorate and the District Veterinary Office have deployed a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to kill the infected poultry.
While the birds were killed only at the Khanar-based farm, the virus was detected only among a group of chickens in one of the coops in Itahari. Chickens in the second coop have not developed the symptoms, said Dr Bol Raj Acharya, the director of the Eastern Regional Directorate of Animal Health.
“We have decided to monitor the coop and take action only if the chickens develop flu symptoms,” he said.
The local administration has declared areas adjoining both the outbreak sites as infected zones.
“We have directed the authorities concerned to increase surveillance in these farms. We have also banned import and export of chickens and other poultry products,” said Chief District Officer Laxman Kumar Thapa, also the chief of the District Bird flu Control Committee.
The District Health Office (DHO), Sunsari, also increased surveillance among humans living around the outbreak sites, Dr Shree Ram Prasad Shah, the DHO chief, said.
The Directorate of National Animal Health had suspected bird flu after around 7,000 chickens died at the Pathibhara Poultry Farm and the PK Poultry Suppliers. As of Sunday evening, more than 8,000 fowls have died in these farms.
In Panchthar and Ilam districts, 300 chickens have been slaughtered in Ghurbise Panchami, an area along the border of the two districts. Also, 600 eggs have been destroyed in the area. Dr Ganesh Raj Pant, a leader of the RRT in Ilam said they need to slaughter around 1,500 fowls kept by 200 houses.
Three schools—Ghurbise Panchami Higher Secondary School, Shanti Bal Bikas Secondary School and Siddha Baba Secondary School—in the outbreak area have been closed for a week.
(With inputs from Biplav Bhattarai (Ilam) and Labadev Dhungana (Panchthar)
Posted on: 2012-02-07 08:40
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